My son leaves for college tomorrow and my husband is headed into a busy season of business travel, so I do anticipate a lot of sleepless nights in my near future, perfect for writing. My day job has been ramping up to crazy levels, leaving me a bit un-creative fiction-wise by the time I shut down the work computer... so I've been unwinding with reading.
Procrastination Tip of the Day: As a writer, you must read widely in and around your chosen genre, so reading is, like, a necessary part of the job. See? It's a job requirement. Go read.
That said, I've finished 27+ books in the last month, only one of them a novella, and started and abandoned 5 others, including one I almost finished but just couldn't bring myself to care enough about the ending. Excessive, I know. And now I have a backlog of reviews I need to write, because out of those books finished I've only written 3 or 4 reviews, which were for authors I know personally.
What have I learned
from this obsessive behavior?
1. There are a lot of un-perfect books out there. Yes, more than just the five I abandoned. Head hopping, bad editing, missing words, misused words, overused phrases and trumped-up drama. I'm not a quitter, so I usually finish the book if it has anything good about the characters or plotline - unperfect doesn't mean "bad," and even bad books are a learning experience, sometimes more so than good books.
2. Billionaires are a heavily overused cliche. Yes, Jane Austen did it too, but she understood how the aristocracy worked. And princes and lords have been a staple of romance since novels were first published. But. I'm not sure if this is a hangover from 50 Shades or what, but there are a TON of them out there. Most with "billionaire" in the title, in case you might have missed it. And very few of these guys are even believable as billionaires. What happened to write what you know and/or research the hell out of it? Internet. Google. The (gasp) library.
3. Reality t.v. (like the Bachelor) is hard to write as a novel. It sounds like an easy setting to conquer, and yet... I've now read at least five reality t.v. romances, and no, not easy. I don't think watching the Bachelorette is the same thing as knowing what goes on behind the scenes or how decisions are made or how television people actually go about doing their jobs. I think I may do a post comparing all the novels I've read in this genre - and I think there are even a few more on my Kindle I haven't cracked yet. Or maybe I'll just say enough with this: People! Don't write it if you don't understand how it works.
4. I don't like books with too many POVs going on at once. And I'm not even talking about the rookie writers who jump into a character's head once to further the plot - I'm talking books where there are six different characters with separate agendas and POVs, where the author can bounce between them properly and still annoy me. It's much harder to write from one POV or a he said/she said alternating POV (my preferred style to write and read) but in the end so much more satisfying. Too much head hopping is easier for the author, but harder on the reader. Unless it's an epic saga, like Lord of the Rings or something. Tolkien needed to be all over Middle Earth, and there was no way to do that without dividing and conquering. But come on, romance in a small town doesn't need everyone and their older brother's perspective. Focus!
5. Sex should make sense in the context of the story. Lust or longing or love at first sight is a different thing, but actual physical contact? That should definitely wait until both characters are ready. One of the books I abandoned had one of the characters basically muscle his way into a vet's office as she was closing up for the night, demand that she stitch up his dog's wound unassisted then after she successfully saved his dog, he had sex with her against the wall of the operating room, and she was hot and ready. Umm, really? Exhausted and covered in dog blood and afraid, yeah, believable. Wet and willing? Not so much. Click. Delete from device. Pass the brain bleach, please, stat.
So yeah, after taking my son to college and sharing tearful goodbyes (Although I'm sure I'll be the only one crying) I'm ready to come home and write. I'm inspired to do better.
I've shared my Top 5 Pet Peeves - how about you? What current trends have you banging your head against your Kindle and maybe reaching for the brain bleach? Share!
And happy reading - and writing!
I really don't like books with billionaires in it. Too many writers have billionaire bachelors in their romances, and it truly does bother me. I don't care for those male characters at all.
ReplyDeleteThe vet sex scene you described made me cringe. I wrote a couple of interesting sex scenes in Seismic Crimes, but both of my characters were ready. That scene just sounds odd...and gross. In the operating room? Was the dog still there?
I think they may have put the dog in a recovery kennel first... but honestly, I was too horrified to remember... cringe-worthy for sure.
Delete(I have Nothing against sex scenes in romance, don't get me wrong.)
Thanks for stopping by, Chrys!
Darlin' you hit the nail of the proverbial head! All five of yours are also pet peeves of mine. One that really sticks in my gullet, tho, is the current trend of books with male leads, who if were real and alive, I would caution my daughter against ever being alone with. You know - the kind that from the very first minute of the meet and greet is undressing the heroine in his mind and thinking of all the ways he can -ahem- have her? And he tells you about it in graphic detail ( or the writer does). Let the momentum build. Not hit you in the face right out of the gate. I've stopped reading 3 books this past month because the male leads were written this way in every one of them. Yuck!
ReplyDeleteI hear you on the graphic detail of thoughts - but I think it's a fine line, because I also cringe when the male characters "think" just like the female ones - there's gotta be some differentiation in thought patterns if an author is going to do he said/she said POVs. It sounds like you found a few that were, ahem, extreme.
DeleteYou touched on a lot of mine. I have no interest in the Billionaire trope, and don't watch reality tv (I didn't know people wrote books based on those??). I will often put down a book within a few pages if there are more than three or four characters in the first chapter. I know I won't be able to keep up with who is who, and I read for fun, not to get a brain workout! haha. And I hate unrealistic books, or books that create scenes that make me wonder if I missed part of the story. The Time Traveler's Wife sticks out in my mind...the traveling starts almost immediately and he has sex with a "stranger" on a couch within the second chapter, before I've even figured out what is going on with the characters. That book went straight into my giveaway box going to the thrift store. Life is too short to read a bad book, I always say. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved the Time Traveler's Wife. I love most anything with time travel, but I really loved that one. Not so much the movie, and not at all her second book.
DeleteBut that's why there are so many different books and authors out there writing different stuff - we don't all like the same things or look for the same things in a novel. And yes, life is too short to read something you're not enjoying or that's making you feel uncomfortable.
I once had a book rejected because the hero was only a cop. They told me the hero should be a billionaire, CEO, royalty, high level politician, etc... I was offended. A guy can have money and not an inch of backbone. I still write what I call my everyday heroes.
ReplyDeleteHuh, I know I've read books where the hero is a policeman or fireman - maybe that publisher or that line had other requirements. I love reading everyday hero books:-) Keep writing!
DeleteGreat post! I write historical and fantasy/paranormal kinds of stories, also read mostly in those genres, so can't hop in on the contemporary angle, but get all your points. Historicals, especially Regency, have a tendency to focus on the nobility, but readers really seem to like that. However, there are the warriors, cowboys, and other untitled hero's, too. I starred a nerd in one of my time travels and he was very well liked. :) You never know.
ReplyDeleteI've read a few romances with computer geek heroes, kind of My Fair Lady in reverse. Such fun!
DeleteMy main character in my latest book is aristocracy and wealthy. A Vampyre Rhapsody isn't contemporary, but the hero does star in a contemporary. Your post made me think.
ReplyDeleteLinda, you are unique in your writing and your stories are fabulous! There's no comparison with yours to these others.
DeleteLinda, I didn't mean to pick on EVERY billionaire or aristocrat. And in the case of a vampire as old as yours, he'd have to be a complete idiot to NOT amass a fortune over the years, lol. I read plenty of rich-guy heroes, I just feel like those titles are maybe edging out other heroes... and that some authors are writing stereotypical billionaires without having a clue how their world would actually work.
DeleteRead a book recently--and this was by a well-known Romance author whom I'd never before read--that seemed soooo promising at the start. Spunky heroine. Great situation. But I couldn't stomach the hero because he was a virtual sexual bully. He kept forcing the heroine up against walls, groping and kissing her disgustingly and then laughing about it. She was turned on by this. NOT! The guy was a blatant jerk...you show me the real woman who'd be turned on by that! Great post and thanks for letting me sound off!
ReplyDeleteThat would certainly turn me off.
DeleteSexual bullying is never a good thing, in real life or in romance novels. And I think it gives both men and women bad expectations for real-life situations.
DeleteI enjoyed your pet peeves--and although I write historical, many of your points matched my peeves.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Barbara!
DeleteI just plain hate wading through a slush pile of early draft works that are out there. POV issues and those you mentioned, I find weak characters, no tension, poor pacing, and no real conflict. Bickering is not tension or conflict.
ReplyDeleteI wish authors would respect the fact that their writing isn't perfect and seriously pursue workshops on craft and hire an editor.
Totally agree!!!
DeleteMy worst is dialogue between two dudes who know each other well, and it reads like a couple of gals gabbing at the hairdresser. I shouldn't criticize as my debut novel is releasing at the end of the year and I might get hammered, as my hero has lots of chats with his best bud. Hells bells, hope I cracked it!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog Katie, it's fun to take a moment and blow off steam. xx
Guy dialogue is tough - mostly because in real life guys very rarely share their feelings, emotions, or inner thoughts with their buddies, not even best friends. Drives me nuts when my husband goes out with friends and I ask him questions the next day and HE HAS NO ANSWERS - "so what did you all talk about?" "Nothing." Most guy dialogue is based in the moment, what they're doing, the game on the t.v., a concert they saw recently... not good for furthering plot...
DeleteFirst of all having the picture of M&M candies at the top of your page makes me want some in the worst way. I share several of your hated trends. Although I will add one more. When the hero and heroine go back and forth the WHOLE book saying or thinking "I'm not good enough for him/her". Those books never get finished by me. So I don't discover if they every decide they are or not. LOL Wish you lots of luck getting back to writing, I hate when life happens when you should be writing! Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteM&Ms and coffee, breakfast of champions!
DeleteAs far as insecurities in heroes and heroines, I guess it depends on their characters and the situation. Someone who's been emotionally battered or abused in their past I might let them take longer to realize their self-worth. If it's part of the character's growth arc, it might work for a while. But in general, yeah, I agree with you.
Does a millionaire sit differently from a billionaire. Millionaire is not such an unrealistic or uncommon thing these days. The draw is the fantasy of being able to quit your job and be pampered. Books are fantasy. Let us dream! No, not at all truly offended. Just laughing at myself. My books tend to display successful men. Success representing a hard worker, but hard workers don't always become millionaires or billionaires it's true. It's just an easy way to get there...and then, of course, there's the whole we-get-to-quit-job thing. Great article.
DeleteHi Amity, I didn't mean to disparage any characters or authors with my rant.
DeleteAnd if you look into the actual economics of it all, a million dollars does not mean you can retire for life in most cases, especially not if you have kid(s) Millionaires can be comfortable, but they still have to work. Or someone in the family does. I totally agree that the point of reading romance is to suspend belief and dream of a different reality, but if an author is trying to write a "real" reality, they should make that alternative reality sound real. Hmmm, I'm confusing myself a bit, think I need more coffee, but hopefully you get my point. Thanks for stopping by!
As always, Katie, you hit the nail on the head! I totally agree with your pet peeves. And I also agree that you need to read in our romance genre to keep yourself up-to-date and fresh in this genre!!! I do have one exception about the reality TV books, and I'm no expert, as this is the only one I've read of that sub-genre, but I thought it was actually a good book. It's by P.C. Zick and called: "Behind the Curtain." My apologies if I'm not supposed to mention specific authors and books here. Billionnaires are definitely overdone, and I don't like sexual bullies, either. Loved your post!
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to imply all reality books are awful or anything. I totally enjoyed LORD BACHELOR by Tammy Bailey (which started my fascination with the sub-genre) but her take was a bit magical to begin with, not like some of the others that are going for really real, you know what I mean?
DeleteI loved this blog Katie! You hit the nail on the head. My pet peeves are a whiny heroine or one who is so immature I have to stop reading. As in they never grow up throughout the entire book. And I really don't like the super alpha hero, aka the sexual bullies. They have characteristics I'd warn my nieces about, so why do I want to read them? Great article!!
ReplyDeleteWhiny heroines would be next on my list, lol! Thanks for adding them! I like to read strong women.... Not necessarily women who have their act together, but those who are willing to try and work at it, not wait to be rescued. Right?
DeleteThanks for stopping by and adding to the list!
Hi Katie, Good luck with all as your son starts college what an exciting time for him and transition for you! I did the opposite of you and after obsessively reading romances all summer took a break from reading this fall to read THE ORPHAN TRAIN, excellent story with two fascinating main characters. Best to you, DeeDee
ReplyDeleteOrphan Train is definitely on my TBR list. And yes, I do read outside my genres too, but I admit I tend to get in ruts. Thanks for visiting, Dee Dee, and have a great weekend
DeleteFor me it's not about what a book has that bugs me, but what it doesn't have. For me there has to be realistic conflict and real tension between the hero and heroine. I can't get into books where everything is too perfect or the conflict is something silly that no one would get upset about. Maybe that's why I write historicals. The stakes were pretty high in the medieval era, or even the Regency era. Who you married was everything and there was only one shot.
ReplyDelete